Contemporary art and the geopolitics of extractivism in Turkey's Kurdistan

Discussing a body of artwork made in Turkey's Kurdistan, I explore contemporary art's potential to facilitate critical insight into the (geo)politics ecology today. A significant strand growing geographical literature on focuses issues ecological import such as climate change, locating critique problematisation Eurocentric aesthetics for its links with colonialism and racialised humanism. Still another neoliberal geopolitics, appraising against post-political approaches democracy, peace, prosperity. bring together these two strands, both methodologically empirically, consider politics inextricably intertwined state-endorsed racial violence 20th century democratisation peace-making 21st century. Methodologically, develop operationalise concept extractivism conversation recent critics Anthropocene thesis who foreground capitalism rather than humanity geopolitical – geological force afflicting ecology. Empirically, draw artworks under discussion unpack how Kurdistan has not only continued unabated throughout neoliberal-democratic transition from “war” “peace” but also structured latter paradigm former, influencing realms beyond resource extraction. The resulting argument is following. Challenging Eurocentrism and/or remain important indicators (geo)political potential. However, fuller appraisal this requires asking if what extent challenges redistribute agency vis-à-vis power relations formed by formative set practices operating through industries extraction proper, like mining, agriculture, construction, cultural ones art.